I just got back from taking my latest Microsoft MCSD exam - 70-315 Developing Web Applications with .NET. (Yes, I know I planned to take it back in July, but I never got around to booking it until now.)

For the record, I passed. See my MCSD certification wiki if you are interested in persuing it yourself.

As well, I just signed a renewal with my current client for one more year. I have until at least February 2006 before I need to worry about my next assignment.

Some people may ask, “why bother?” I mean, if you already have a 1 year contract (working with .NET no less), why try to get certified now? Aren't certifications only for people who either don't have experience or don't have a job?

Definitely not. Certification is one aspect of my self-improvement regimine. The process of studying for an exam teaches me things that I would not otherwise know. I read books I might not otherwise read, or go to web sites that I might not otherwise go. Certification broadens my horizons.

It's true that certification is not a perfect replacement for experience. But certification does count for something towards the total experience calculation. It's something more to talk about during an interview. And it might tip the balance in your favor when a prospective employer is deciding which of two individuals to hire.

In short, as Eric Sink so accurately stated in his article Career Calculus, you alone are responsible for your career. Do you just sit back and let skills and experience come to you, or do you actively go out and seek to improve your skills? Being proactive about it (including persuing certifications on your own time and at your own expense), shows your employer that you are a good investment. That you will increase in value over time. In some situations, it just might get you a raise as well.